Glenside Commercial District
and Arcadia University
Revitalization and Circulation
Feasibility Study Phase II
In October of 2000, the Cheltenham Board of Commissioners adopted the Commercial District Enhancement Plan(CDEP) of recommended improvements to the five primary commercial districts in the township. The Glensidecommercial district is the largest of these five and includes the Easton Road corridor which connects the SEPTARegional Rail station to Arcadia University. The CDEP presented a series of recommendations, some of which have already begun implementation. In July of 2004, Cheltenham Township applied for a Transportation and Community Development Initiative grant to “enhance circulation around Arcadia University’s campus and the Glenside Commercial District.” This study was intended to follow the CDEP with feasibility studies of the recommendations presented in the plan. In addition, the scope introduced the partnership with Arcadia University and the goal of enhancing the “town-n-gown” atmosphere in Glenside.
The study area was defined as the Easton Road corridor from Route 309 to Glenside Avenue, including the Arcadia University campus and the Church Road underpass. As the study progressed, the team expanded their view of the study area to include the Easton Road and Route 309 connections with Cheltenham Avenue (figure 1). The goals, objectives, and projects were derived from a series of relevant reports including the CDEP, the Cheltenham Township Comprehensive Plan, and the 2004 Arcadia Master Plan.